Signaling system.



No. 758,724. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. J. WEATHERBY, JR.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 758,724. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904. J. WEATHERBY, JR. SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JOSEPH WEATHERBY, JR, OF NEIV CUMBERLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- SIGNOR TOTHE WVEATHERBY ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COH- PANY, OF NEWV CUMBERLAND,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAIVARE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 7 58,724, dated May 3,1904.

Application filed June 1, 1903. Serial No. 159,661. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,JosE1 H IVEATHERBYJ r. a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Cumberland, in the county of Cumberland andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Signaling Systems; and I do declare the following.

to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to calling or signal ing systems, and isparticularly designed for use in connection withdistrict-messenger-callbox, fire-alarm, and other single-wireclosedcircuit systems having instruments wired in series.

The main object of the invention is to provide a system by means ofwhich if a wire is broken, cut, or becomes electrically disconnected atone or more points in the main or external circuit the system will stillbe operative and signals can still be sent from all the boxes in saidcircuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system of this characterhaving callboxes of novel construction, together with a novelcombination of wiring and instruments at the central or receivingstation whereby, in addition to the above-noted result, notice will beinstantly given at the central oflice of the break in the line. 7

Still another object is to providea means by which the cut, broken, ordisconnected wire can be conveniently located, so that it may berepaired.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, combination,and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a calling orsignaling system embodying my invention, showing in full and brokenlines the respective arrangement of the switches when the system is innormal condition and when ground connection 8.

there is a break in the line. Fig. 2 isa front view of one of thecall-boxes in closed condition. Fig. 3 is a similar view, the coverbeing removed to expose the interior; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detailviews of the commutator mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the application of myinvention to a districtmessenger-call system, although I do not desireto limit it thereto, as it may be employed in connection with fire-alarmand other signal systems. I

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 1, 2, 3,and 4 represent call-boxes which are installed in series in a closedcircuit A, comprising the wires a, a, a (6 a, o ,117, and a and havingtherein a controlling knife-switch A and a relay or electromagnet A. Asshown, each callbox has binding-posts 5 and 6, to which the adjacentends of the bridge-wires a, a a, 20*, and a are connected, and eachcall-box also has a binding-post 7 for the attachment ofthe The switch Ais of the double-pole double-throw type, and the wires (1 a areconnected to the pivot-posts a of its switch member A, while the wires aand a are connected to one of its sets of connectinglugs (4 The switchmember A swings between the lugs a and an opposite set ofconnecting-lugs a and when engaged with said lugs it maintains theclosed condition of the circuit A. The electromagnet or. relay A isconnected to the wires a and a and its armature (L12 is retracted, whenthe magnet is .deenergizechby a retracting-springaiand drawn intoengagement with a contact a; Included in' the circuit A are batteries BB, which are connected up, respectively, with the wires a a and a a. Anyother suitable source of electric energy may be used in placeof thebatteries.

Each call-box comprises a box or casing C, having a removable cover C,bearing on its outer face points marked Mess. Police, Fire, Special.\Vithin it is arranged the usual spring-driven clockwork mechanism 0,set in motion by the adjustment of the crank 7 one or more times.

0 to one of the aforesaid points, such motion of said mechanism turninga commutatorwheel 0 one, two, three, four, or more revolutions,according to the points to which the crank has been turned, to sound thesignal The commutator is providedwithbrushes 0 a, which are carried by ablock of insulation 0 The brush 0 is connected by a wire 0 to a stop-armc, which is insulated from the frame by an insulatingwasher 0 and to thebinding-post 6. The brush 0 is connected by a wire 0 to the binding-post7, to which the ground-wire 8 is attached. Formed in the edge of thecommu-.

. comes into engagement with the brush 0* before the brush 0 enters theadjacent notch and moves out of contact with brush 0 before brush 0passes out of the notch. This arrangement prevents short-circuiting whenin the normal action of the parts the circuit is through the brush 0 andclosed circuit A and at the same time admits of the completion of acircuit through the ground-wire 8 when the circuit connection of brush 0is broken.

The switch A and relay A are disposed at the central or receivingstation, and alsodisposed at said station is a circuit D, comprisingwiresd cl, connected to relays or electromagnets D D which are coupledby a conductor (2 having a ground connection d The armature cl of themagnet D is retracted by a spring d and is adapted when the magnet isenergized to engage a contact d, and the armature 6Z7 of the magnet D issimilarly retracted by a spring d and adapted when said magnet isenergized to engage a contact d. The wires 03 d are connected to theconnecting-lugs a of the switch A, and the switch member A is adapted toengage either set of lugs a or a, as shown, respectively, in full anddotted lines in Fig. l. ,The circuit D forms an auxiliary normallyinactive part of the main circuit A.

E denotes a local open circuit located at the central station, the samecomprising wires f, f, f3, f f, and f and a battery or other source ofelectric energy B In this circuit is included a signal device G, anincandescent flash-lamp G, and a controllingswitch H. The signal deviceG may be of any'preferred construction, but as shown consists of an ordinary single-stroke tap-bell comprising the I gong g, electromagnets g,and spring-retract- The lamp G serves as an auxiliary signal forindicating the approximate point of a break in the line. In place of thelamp I'may use an annunciator or any other suitable form of aural orvisual signal. The switch H may be, as shown, an ordinary knife-switchof the double-pole single-throw type. Its switch member H is pivoted to,the posts it, to which the wires f f are connected, and is movable toengage the connecting-lugs 7a, which are connected by the wires f f tothe armature a and contact-point a of the relay A whereby the localcircuit may be connected up so as to be controlled and thrown into andout of circuit of the line through the relay A The wire f containingthe'lamp G, is connected to the contact-points d d, and the wire fcontaining the battery B is connected to the armatures d" d of therelays D D The wires f f are connected directly with the contactpoint (Zand armature d of relay D and by branch wires 6Z9 03 withthecontact-point d and armature d of relay D 1 Assuming the parts to be inthe normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) I will now describe the circuitsand trace the path of the current, as follows:. Starting from switch Athe current flows through wire a to battery B, thence through wire a tobinding-post 5 of boxl, through the frame of the box, viawire 5, to thecommutator-wheel 0 thence by way of brush c wire 0 and binding-post 6 towirea", thence successively through the other boxes, 2, 3, and 4, inlike manner, and finally back to wire a via wire a, battery B, one ofthe lugs (4 one side of switch A wire a relay A wire a, and other lug aand other side-of switch A It will thus be perceived that as the circuitdescribed is normally closed the current flowing through the magnets ofrelay A will normally hold the armature a in contact with the cores ofthe magnets and that when said circuit is broken and relay A deenergizedthe spring a willdraw armature a away from the cores of the magnets andbring it into engagement with contact a, thereby closing the circuit E.Therefore should the crank 0 of any of the call-boxes be turned in thedirection of the arrow the clockwork mechanism 0 will be set in motion,causing the commutatorwheel 0 to revolve one or more times, according tothe degree of movement given the crank, allowing the brush c to dropinto the notches 0 thus breaking the circuit A for one or more shortintervals, according to the box operated. Assuming that the crank of box3 is operated, then the main closed circuit will be opened three times,that being the number of v IIO times according to the box operated,allowing armature a to be drawn back into engagement with contact-pointa under the action of spring a, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1,causing the local open circuit to be closed, whereupon one or morecurrent impulses will flow through wire f, one side of switch H, wire f,wire f battery B magnets of bell Gr, back through wire f wire f,opposite side of switch H, and conductor f. This causes the bell G tostrike off a corresponding number of taps, thereby indicating the number01' the box which has been operated. If a wire in the main closedcircuit A should now be cut, broken, or electrically disconnected, theelectromagnet or relay A will be deenergized, permanently closing thelocal circuit E and causing bell G to make one stroke, thus givingnotice of such break to the operator or attendant at the centralstation. Upon hearing this signal the operator throws the two sets ofboxeson opposite sides of the break into two separate circuits having acommon connection with the signal-circuit E by shifting switch A fromthe full-line to the broken position shown in Fig. 1 and opening switchH, as also shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, thereby cutting out therelay A and throwing in relays D D This causes the main circuit, whichhas normally been closed, to become two distinct open circuits. Assumingthat the break has occurred at the point X in the wire a, I will nowdescribe the two main open circuits which are thus formed and the methodof indicating the location of the break at the central station. Startingat box 2 at the left side of the broken wire a when the crank c isoperated, the commutator will revolve as before; but the current willflow from ground through wire 8, binding-post 7, wire 0, brush 0, pins ocommutator-disk a, box G, wire 5, binding-post 5 to wire a thence to andthrough box 1 via binding-post 6, wire 0", brush 0 commutator-wheel 0box C, wire 5, and binding-post 5, thence through wire a to battery B,to wire a, switch A, wire (i, magnet D, and back to ground at (7 Thiscauses the magnet D to become energized. thus moving armature (1 intoengagement with contactpoint (2" and closing circuit E, the currentpassing along conductor f flashing lamp Gr and operating bell G, andback through wire f and battery B The bell is thereby caused to soundtwo strokes and the lamp to give two flashes. Hence it will be observedthat all the boxes to the left of the break X, the battery B, switch A,and associated wires form a normally open circuit which when closed bythe commutator-switch mechanism at the operated box closes thesignal-circuit E. I will now trace the second open circuit, starting atcallbox 3, which circuit includes all the call-boxes to the right of thebreak X. Operation of the crank of said box will cause the brush 0 toengage pins 0, whereupon a current will flow from earth to wire 8,binding-post 7, wire a, brush 0, pins 0, commutator-disk c brush 0, wirea", and binding-post 6 at said box to wire a", through box 4 to wire abattery B, wire a to switch A, thence to wire 6], electromagnet D andwire (Z to earth at (Z causing the armature to close the circuit E, thecurrent passing through said circuit via tap (Z to wire f and battery Bto bell G, thereby operating the latter, thence back through wire f andtap (Z to the contactpoint d. It will be observed thatin operating thefirst main open circuit from box 2 or any other box therein the lamp Gis operated, giving a flash for each stroke of the bell, but that in theoperation of the second main open circuit the lamp is unafi'ected as thecurrent flows back through the tap (Z to the relay D without passingthrough the lam p. Therefore as box 2 when operated causes lamp G toflash and box 3 does not it will be clear to the operator at centralthat the break in the wire is between boxes 2 and 3. Upon repairing thebroken wire both magnets D D will be permanently energized and bell Gwill be caused to sound one stroke. This sound is a signal that the wirehas been repaired, and upon its receipt the operator has only to throwthe switch A back into contact with poles (0 and again close switch H torestore the circuit to its normal condition. Should lightning strike themain closed circuit-wires at any point, it can freely flow to the earthat any of the call-boxes in the circuit by jumping across the smallair-gap between brush 0" and the contiguous pin 0. I may, if desired,make the circuitE a normally closed instead of a normally open circuitand vary the system accordingly.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages ofthe invention will be readily understood without requiring a moreextended explanation.

Various changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A signaling system, comprising a series of signaling devices, wiredin series in a singlewire closed circuit, an automatic switch actuatedby the breaking of said circuit, an open signal circuit containing anindicator and closed by said switch, a third circuit normallyindependent of the said closed and open circuits and containingautomatic switches,1neans located at the central station fordiscounecting the first-named switch from the open circuit andconnecting up the last-named switch with said open circuit and theclosed circuit to form two independent open circuits when a break at anypoint in the closed circuit oocurs, so that the signaling device on oneside of the break will be included in one of said circuits and thesignaling device on the other side of the break in the other circuit,and a break-indicating signal located in said open circuit and adaptedto be shifted into one of said independent open circuits and operatedthereby and to be unaffected by the other independent open circuit,substantially as described.

2. Asignaling system comprising signaling devices connected in series ina single-wire closed circuit, a source of electric energy and anautomatic switch in said circuit, each of said signaling devices beingprovided with a commutator having two sets of contact portions.

and coacting brushes having two connections,

one with said circuit and the other with the earth, said brushes actingalternately, an open circuit containing a source of electricenergy andan indicator, and adapted to be closed by the said automatic switch whenthe closed circuit is open, a hand-switch at the central station fordisconnecting the said open circuit from the said switch, an auxiliarymain circuit having automatic switches provided with a common groundconnection and in circuit with the said closed circuit and adapted toindependently close the same, and a hand-switch at the central stationfor throwing the firstnamed automatic switch or the said auxiliarycircuit into connection with the main circuit, whereby, when a breakoccurs at any point in the closed circuit, by operating the said switchand the means for connecting or disconnecting the first-named automaticswitch with or from the open circuit, the signaling devices uponopposite sides of the break in the said closed circuit may be throwninto two independent open circuits including the said auxiliary circuit,its automatic switches and the open circuit containing the indicator,substantially as described.

3. A signaling system comprising signaling devices connected in seriesin a single-wire closed circuit, a source of electric energy and anautomatic switch in said circuit, each of said signaling devices beingprovided with a commutator having two sets of contact portions andcoacting brushes having two connections, one with said circuit and theother with the earth, said brushes acting alternately, an open circuitcontaining a source of electric energy and an indicator, and adapted tobe closed by the said automatic switch when the closed circuit is open,a hand-switch at the central station for disconnecting the said opencircuit from the said switch, an auxiliary main circuit having automaticswitches provided with a common ground connection and in circuit withthe said closed circuit and adapted to independently close the same, ahand-switch at the central station for throwing the firstnamed automaticswitch or the said auxiliary circuit into connection with the maincircuit,

circuits and operated thereby and to be unafiected by the otherindependent open circuit, said signal-circuit being closed in the oneinstance by an automatic switch in the closed.

circuit, and in the other instance by either one of the said automaticswitches in the auxiliary main circuit, substantially as described.

4. In a signaling systemof the character described, the combination of asingle-wire closed circuit containing a series of signaling devices,each of said signaling devices being provided with a make-and-breakdevice having two separate connecting elements operating at differentperiods, one of said sets of elements being connected with the circuitand the other with the ground, an open circuit containing an indicator,a switch in the closed circuitadapted to be automatically operated uponthe breaking of said circuit to close the said open circuit, amanually-operated switch at the central ofiice for connecting the saidautomatic switch with the open circuit, an auxiliary circuit containingautomatic switches connected with the open circuit and adapted whenoperated to close said circuit, said switches adapted to be operated bycurrents passing in different directions through the auxiliary circuit,and a manually-operated switch at the central oflice for connecting theclosed circuit directly with the open circuit through the first-namedautomatic switch or indirectly through the said auxiliary circuit,substantially as described.

5. In a signaling device of the character described, the combination ofa single-wire closed circuit containing a series of signaling devices,each having a make-and-break device and a ground connection, saidcircuit also having a pair of batteries, an open circuit containing anindicator and having a battery and a signaling device therein, anautomatic switch included in the closed circuit and adapted when saidcircuit is opened to close the open circuit,

and the first-named switch of the auxiliary circuit, and amanually-operated switch at the central oflice for connecting the closedcircuit at a point between its batteries directly to the open circuitthrough the automatic switch therein or indirectly through the saidauxiliary circuit.

6. In a signaling system of the character described,the combination of asingle-wire closed circuit containing a series of signaling-stations,each of said stations being provided with a make-and-break device havingtwo separate sets of connecting elements operating at different periods,one of said sets of elements being connected with the circuit and theother with the ground, a double-pole, double-throw switch at theterminals of said circuit, a main automatic switch connected with theclosed circuit when the double-pole switch is in one of its operativepositions, an auxiliary circuit containing automatic switches, saidauxiliary circuit adapted to be connected with the main circuit and thesaid main automatic switch to be cut out of said circuit when thedouble-pole switch is adjusted to its reverse position, a normally opensignal-circuit adapted to be closed by the main automatic switch whensaid switch is in circuit with the line, or by either of theauxiliary-circuit automatic switches when said auxiliary circuit isconnected with the line, said signal-circuit containing indicators, oneoperated by the closing of either auxiliary switch to denote thecalling-station in the line, and the other by the closing of one of saidauxiliary switches to determine the point of location of a break in theline, and a manual switch for disconnecting the main automatic switchfrom the open signal-circuit, whereby, when the said manual switch isclosed and the main automatic switch is connected by the double-poleswitch with the line, all the signaling-stations will be connected inseries in a closed circuit, and when said main automatic switch is cutout by the manual switch and the auxiliary circuit is cut in by thedouble-pole switch, upon a break in the line the stations on oppositesides of the break will be arranged in two independent open circuits,both controlling the station-indicator in the signal-circuit but onlyone the breakindicator therein, substantially as described.

7. In a signaling system of the character described,the combination of asingle-wire closed circuit containing a series of signaling-stations,each of said stations being provided with a make-and-break devicecomprising a rotary commutator-disk having sets of notches andintervening projections and brushes to alternately engage the notchesand projections, one of said brushes being connected with the line andthe other with the ground, a double-pole double-throw switch at theterminals of said circuit, a main automatic switch connected with theclosed circuit when the double-pole switch is in one of its operativepositions, an auxiliary circuit containing automatic switches, saidauxiliary circuit adapted to be connected with the main circuit and thesaid main automatic switch to be cut out of said circuit when thedouble-pole switch is adjusted to its reverse position, a normally opensignal-circuit adapted to be closed by the main automatic switch whensaid switch is in circuit with the line, or by either of theauxiliary-circuit automatic switches when said auxiliary circuit isconnected with the line, said signal-circuit containing indicators, oneoperated by the closing of either auxiliary switch to denote thecalling-station in the line, and the other by the closing of one of saidauxiliary switches to determine the point of location of a break in theline, and a manual switch for disconnecting the main automatic switchfrom the open signal-circuit, whereby, when the said manual switch isclosed and the main automatic switch is connected by the double-poleswitch with the line, all the signaling-stations will be connected inseries in a closed circuit, and when said main automatic switch is cutout by the manual switch, and the auxiliary circuit is cut in by thedenble-pole switch, upon a break in the line the stations on oppositesides of the break will be arranged in two independent open circuits,both controlling the station-indicator in the signal-circuit but onlyone the break-indicator therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH WVEATHERBY, J R. lVitnesses:

H. BRITTINGHAM, C. C. HINEs.

